Episode 5F01
Written by John Swartzwelder
Directed by Pete Michels
Also starring: Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille

Premise: After post-soccer violence sets the streets of Springfield ablaze, Homer joins the NRA and arms himself. Marge, on the other hand, hates the idea of a gun in the family and eventually takes the kids and leaves until Homer can make himself part with his pistol.

Features: Mr Burns, Smithers, Carl, Lenny, Moe, Barney, barflies, Selma, Patty, Kent Brockman, Chief Wiggum, Lou, Eddie, Agnes Skinner, Skinner, Groundskeeper Willie, Otto, Superintendent Chalmers, Milhouse, Nelson, Jimbo, Dolph, Keamey, Snake, Rev. Lovejoy, Helen Lovejoy, Ned Flanders, Ruth Powers, Mr van Houten, Dr Hibbert, Quimby, Don Tony, Bumblebee Man, Krusty, Sideshow Mel, Apu, Sanjay, Spotty Boy, Herman, Cletus, Rainier Wolfcastle, Dr Nick Riviera.

Couch: The family run in, bums on fire, and douse themselves on the waterlogged couch.

Trivia:

• Patty and Selma still live at 1599 Spinster City Apartments.
• At the Springfield Stadium, on the night of the soccer (Mexico versus Portugal, by the way, with a welcome from football legend Pele), is advance notice that tomorrow it is the Monsters of Poetry night.
• Ex-Con Security's logo is From the Big House to Your House.
• At the NRA meeting is a notice to Come in and Shoot Your Mouth Off.
• Homer believes NRA stands for Nachos, Rifles and Alcohol.

Homage: The title, but nothing else, is swiped from the seventies TV series The Partridge Family.

Notes for Brits: The National Rifle Authority is a very powerful lobby in America, determined to uphold the constitutional right for citizens to bear arms. Having no such law in Britain, many of us may well sympathise with Lisa's comment that the ideology is about 200 years out of date. Despite the tragedies of recent years, no US administration seems likely to take the risk of repealing such a law. Yet.

Look out for: Willie and his Scottish pals knowing how to start a good fight, Homer's temptation to shoot everything from a Target stores truck, Patty and Selma, and even Ned Flanders. Marge, when holding the pistol, suddenly understands the attraction, to the strains of Laurie Johnson's magnificent theme to the sixties TV show The Avengers.

Notes: One of the most politically unambiguous episodes ever: it's very clear which side of the argument the creators of The Simpsons come down on in the gun debate. Sadly the episode itself is very dull and the plot isn't sustainable, but it does offer up the gem of Lisa reminding Homer that Maggie shot Mr Burns. Homer thought Smithers did it, which, Lisa acknowledges, makes more sense.